Trump-backed de la Espriella wins razor-thin Colombian presidential election
Far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, who has never held public office, narrowly won Colombia's presidential runoff, vowing to crack down on drug cartels and rebel groups, while his opponent challenges the results.
Narrow victory and reactions
Abelardo de la Espriella, a flamboyant US-backed lawyer with no prior government experience, won Colombia's presidential election on Sunday by a razor-thin margin. With nearly all votes counted, he secured 49.7% against left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda's 48.7%. The victory swings the country hard right, with de la Espriella promising an "iron fist" security policy.
Known as "The Tiger," de la Espriella told supporters in Barranquilla that a new era was beginning, vowing to fight violence, terror, and corruption. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated him, expressing eagerness to work together on security, immigration, and economic ties.
Unrest and challenges
Thousands of protesters gathered in Cali, burning US flags and clashing with police. De la Espriella pledged an inclusive government but also plans to scrap peace talks with dissident groups and launch US-backed airstrikes, testing Colombia's fragile peace process.
Cepeda, trailing by a few hundred thousand votes, did not concede, calling the count unofficial and vowing to challenge results from over 30,000 polling stations. No recount has ever flipped a presidential election in Colombian history.
Regional implications
De la Espriella's win continues a wave of right-wing victories across Latin America. Colombia has prospered since the 2016 peace deal with FARC, but cartels still control large areas, cocaine exports are at record highs, and inequality remains severe.
